WEST PALM OKS 6.7 PERCENT TAX HIKE

A city property tax rate of $8.17 per $1,000 of assessed value and an operating budget of $41.2 million for the next fiscal year was adopted Tuesday by the City Commission.

The commission's action will result in a 6.7 percent increase in property taxes and a 13 percent increase in the operating budget over the current fiscal year for the 1985-86 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

The Police Department will receive 21 new employees, most of whom will be sworn officers. Twelve firefighters and nine emergency medical technicians will be added to staff a new fire station, and the Parks Department will add six employees, primarily to maintain the 28 acres added to Dreher Park.